New York's Low Wage Workers Deserve A Raise

  • Since the federal minimum wage was last increased in 1996-97, employment in New York is up and unemployment is down.

  • In fact, New York has experienced great economic growth. Since September 1996, 609,500 new jobs have been created -- an increase of 7.7%.

  • And while retail is often cited as the industry hit hardest by any increase in the minimum wage, 84,000 new retail jobs have been added in New York.

  • Additionally, unemployment has dropped in New York by 23% since the federal minimum wage was increased. It is now 4.7%.

  • With economic strengths of this proportion, surely New York's low wage workers deserve a raise.

  • Under our proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 by the year 2001, over 566,000 New Yorkers would get a raise.

  • Our proposal is a modest one and would make the value of the minimum wage just 7’ more than what it was in 1982.

  • New York's economy is strong and its low wage workers should share in this success. The time has come for Congress to act now and give thousands of New Yorkers the raise they deserve.

Email us at sdwpmail@usccb.org
Social Development and World Peace | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3180 © USCCB. All rights reserved.





Email us at JPHDmail@usccb.org
Justice, Peace and Human Development | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3180 © USCCB. All rights reserved.